STEP, or the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program, is a Federal Highway Association program funded through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This program was formed with the goal of better understanding the intricate nature of how planning, surface transportation and the environment interact. This program relies on stakeholders to establish its priorities, and as such many different groups have an interested in seeing their needs met by the program. STEP research touches on many relevant issues in transporation today, and the results of said research will likely show up in transportation legislation in the years to come.

One can now view the full implementation strategy for STEP on the FHWA website. This lengthy document provides information on fund allocation, timelines, and overarching goals for the program.

The FHWA has provided a quick overview of what STEP is looking to accomplish in the coming year:

“In FY 2010, STEP is likely to address national research priorities that include:

1. (1) Conducting research to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies;
2. (2) Improving state of the practice regarding livability and the impact of transportation on the environment;
3. (3) Developing and/or supporting accurate models and tools for evaluating transportation measures and developing indicators of economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation systems;
4. (4) Developing and deploying research to address congestion reduction efforts;
5. (5) Developing transportation safety planning strategies for surface transportation systems and improvements;
6. (6) Improving planning, operation, and management of surface transportation systems and rights of way;
7. (7) Enhancing knowledge of strategies to improve transportation in rural areas and small communities;
8. (8) Strengthening and advancing State/local and tribal capabilities regarding surface transportation and the environment;
9. (9) Improving transportation decision-making and coordination across borders;
10. (10) Conducting research to promote environmental streamlining/stewardship;
11. (11) Disseminating research results and advances in state of the practice through peer exchanges, workshops, conferences, etc;
12. (12) Meeting additional priorities as determined by the Secretary; and
13. (13) Refining the scope and research emphases through active outreach and in consultation with stakeholders.

In administering the program, USDOT and FHWA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that:

• The best projects and researchers are selected based on merit, open solicitations, and selection by a panel of appropriate experts;
• Qualified, permanent core staff with ability to manage a large multiyear budget is used;
• Stakeholders are involved in governance of program; and
• There is no duplication with the Future Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) (23 U.S.C. 510), which will be administered by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.” – FHWA

The FHWA has noted that funding for research is lower this year as opposed to previous years and due to this drop in funds, “difficult choices” will need to be made with respect to what is actually researched. A quick look at their charts reveals that STEP funding has actually shown yearly increases since 2006 and since the STEP program has only existed since 2006 one could argue that this particular endeavor has never seen anything but an increase in funding.

The full implementation strategy can be read at the FHWA website.